A new timber-framed community hub has opened in a Suffolk town, replacing a 130-year-old building that starred in a BBC series.

The Castle Community Rooms in Framlingham have been opened following the demolition of St Michael's Rooms, which featured in the TV show Detectorists where it was home to Danebury Metal Detecting Club.

East Anglian Daily Times: Detectorist stars Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook. Picture: Charlotte BondDetectorist stars Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook. Picture: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

The new facility is available for weddings, receptions and meetings and boasts a hall with seating for 100 people, a meeting room accommodating 16 around a table, a kitchen and an office for St Michael's Parochial Church Council (PCC).

East Anglian Daily Times: A meeting room at Castle Community RoomsA meeting room at Castle Community Rooms (Image: Chris Davey)

The Rev Chris Davey, Rector of Framlingham and Saxtead, is a member of the management committee for the new community rooms, which have been built at a cost of £1.2m and opened at the end of January.

He said: "It is going really well. The bookings are really starting to come in now. We have exercise groups, Bridge clubs and children's activities so there are all sorts of activities."

East Anglian Daily Times: The Rev Chris Davey, Rector of Framlingham and SaxteadThe Rev Chris Davey, Rector of Framlingham and Saxtead (Image: Chris Davey)

The modern building, which took a year to complete, has been designed with a lightweight structure on specialist foundations to preserve both archaeology and mature trees on the site, while being unobtrusive on the Church Street landscape.

East Anglian Daily Times: The hall at Castle Community Rooms in FramlinghamThe hall at Castle Community Rooms in Framlingham (Image: Chris Davey)

The aim was to provide a facility for the whole community to use, including for social and musical events, exhibitions and fitness classes.

An open day giving people the opportunity to have a look around the new rooms is set to be held this Saturday, February 18 from 11am to 3pm.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ed Sheeran's father John has backed the community rooms projectEd Sheeran's father John has backed the community rooms project (Image: Contributed)

Pop star Ed Sheeran's father John has also actively helped to support the new community rooms, including raising funds at a talk held at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham in September.

Other backers have included the town council, which provided £126,000 and East Suffolk Council through £700,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy money, along with St Michael's Church and the charity Gee Wizz.